The Portland daily press., 1887-04-05
PARLIAMENT EXCITED.
Speaker PeeI's Conduct the Subject
of Spirited Debate.

LONDON, April 4.-Right Hon. w. Fl.
Smith, First Lord Of the Treasury, replying
to question in the House of Commons this
afternoon, said that under the proposed
Irish Crimes Act, one of the two magistrates
exercising summary jurisdiction, must have
sufficient knowledge of the law He
Smith would not agree to such drastic
proposal as the removal of all Irish magis-
trates lacking legal education.
Rt. Hon. Henry Chaplin, Conservative
member of the Sleaford division of Lincoln
shire, here raised point of order, calling
the attention of the House to the speech
made by Charles A. V. Conybeare, Radical
member for Northwest Cornwall, at a recent
Radical meeting, in which he denounced the
Speaker OF the House as the man who was
no longer impartial, and who had descended
to become an ally of the most tyrannical par
ty in Parliament. Mr.. Chaplin asked if this
language was not gross breach of privi-
lege.
House to decide whether the language refer
red to was breach of privilege, and that
personally he passed it over as he could
well afford to do Cheers, any personal re-
Election Election which h Conybeare might have. in
tended. The gravity Of the affair consisted
in the fact that the language used reflected,
not upon him the Speaker), but upon the
House which had elected him If any mem
Der thought fit to inpugn his conduct while
In the chair, it was competent for that men,
Der to do it by a distinct motion. The
Speaker could understand how, in the pres
ent. state of party feeling, mems passions
might be so aroused that words would es-
cape them which. in cooler moments. they
would repudiate. He hoped the language
used by Conybeare had not been premeditat-
ed or deliberate. 1t was the Speakers wish,
as it was his duty, while in the chair, to al
lay party feeling. Parnellite cries of ''Oh,"
"Oh'). "Yes," added Mr.. Peel, who is
Liberal Unionist, Notwithstanding these
sneers Conservative cheers, it is my wish
to allay party passions"
Mr.. Conybeare said his object, in refer
ring to the closure, was to show that if it
was used in manner contrary to the pledge
OF the government for the purpose Of fore
ing coercion through against the constitu-
tonal liberties OF the House, the. members
ought to sbe informed and obtain further
time for discussion. If he had exceeded his
duty in alluding to the matter, he must
humbly and fully express regret.
Mr.. Smith said he understood that Mr..
gized for having used them. This being so,
he (Mr. SMITH would refrain from COM
commenting on the words Mr.. Conybeare
had used. The speaker enjoyed the es-
TEEN, respect and confidence of both parties.
Conservative cheers.)
GREETED the tone Mr.. Conybeare had adopted
in his speech. The Liberals had no want of
faith in the constant impartiality of the
speaker.
before moving the closure last Saturday
morning, he had the previous sanction OF
the chair. Cries of "Oh," "Oh," "Shame"
Don't answer.'0
Mr. SMITH don't know if it is really
right that should answer that question.
Cries from the Conservatives of 'sNo,"
NO." and Parnellite cheers.)
Amid general disorder Mr.. Smith was
heard to say, Il decline to answer" This
was followed by renewed disturbances.
asked the speaker if it was right to put the
closure motion last Saturday, when there
was no question before the House.
The speaker replied that the main ques-
tion was before the House. (Cheers.)
The subject was then dropped.
Mr.. Chaplin, in attacking Mr.. Conybeare,
aimed indirectly at Mr.. Gladstone, who,
since Saturday, has been in an unwonted
condition of mental excitement over the APP
plication of the closure. Mr.. Gladstone de-
ME mes having blamed the speaker, and insists
that the real offender was Mr.. Smith, for re-
fusing discourteously the request to continue
the debate another day.
After tonight's row the Speaker was
obliged to retire on account of illness, and it
then became known that the probable cause
urday was the fact that he was suffering
acute pain from yaricose veins in his legs.
LORD Salisbury and other members of the
cabinet dined at the Speakers House Satur-
day evening. but the host was absent. Mrs.
Peel explaining that he was ILL., Medical au-
thorities attribute Peel's condition to the
heightened sittings of the House.
II is thought that as result of tonight'S
incident the government will not dare to
hurry she second reading of the coercion
hill A N OF t0 n hot
doubtedly produce wild commotion through
out the country. The Gladstonians aim at
IA days of discussion before .the final divi-
sion, with a recess of a week for stumping
the country and agitating the question. The
ministeriallsts are willing to concede seven
nights for debate without recess. The Lon
don Radical clubs are organizing a demon
stration against the coercion bill. They
propose to hold meeting in Hyde park
Monday and it is expected there will be an
imposing procession. The Speaker will go
into the country for short rest.
Foreign Notes.
A despatch from Massowah, Egypt says
that the Italian commander has arrested the
superior of the Abyssinian order of Jerusa-
lem.
The Nihilist arrests in Russia show that
the Russian Nihilists communicate with
their foreign comrades by sea. English YES
sells are especially suspected of carrying Nj
hilist letters and money. The Russian gov
ernment has placed extra cruisers at the dis
posal of the custom house authorities in order
to enable them to overhaul ships and exam
inc them with extreme care.
In consequence of the finding of 4 case of
gunpowder, with cartridge and fuse attached
in the doorway of his bureau, the president
of the Spanish Cortes has cancelled all cards
Of admission to the parliament building
held by journalists, foreign born and native.
1t is announced that the Ameer of Afghan
istan is seriously alarmed over the discovery
that number of native tribes are combining
against him: He has appealed to the Italian
authorities for help.
The Colonial Conference was opened in
London yesterday with important ceremo-
nies. The Colonial Secretary said the fishery
dispute would be settled satisfactorily.